Sedin scores in 3rd to lead Canucks over Avs 4-1

[March 29, 2013]  VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) -- Daniel Sedin scored the go-ahead goal in the third period and added an assist, Alex Burrows also had a goal and an assist and the Vancouver Canucks beat the Colorado Avalanche 4-1 on Thursday night.

Sedin took a feed from Burrows at the top of the left circle and sent a low wrist shot through Semyon Varlamov's legs -- with twin brother Henrik Sedin screening in front -- at 11:32 of the third to give Vancouver a 2-1 lead.

The goal was Daniel Sedin's 10th of the season but his first in five games -- and only his second in 14.

Sedin assisted on Burrows' first-period goal, putting him two points behind his team-leading brother at 30 points. Henrik Sedin and Chris Higgins each had empty-net goals 44 seconds apart for the Canucks.

Cory Schneider stopped 30 shots to help Vancouver to its sixth straight victory. The Canucks are two points up on idle Minnesota in the Northwest Division standings.

During the win streak, Schneider has allowed just six goals to further cement his position as the team's No. 1 goaltender ahead of Roberto Luongo, who awaits a possible trade before Wednesday's deadline.

Matt Duchene scored for Colorado, which has lost four in a row and is tied for the fewest points in the NHL. Varlamov made 16 saves as the Avalanche fell to 2-12-3 on the road.

Vancouver has not lost in regulation to Colorado since Oct. 3, 2009, going 18-0-2 in that stretch.

Burrows opened the scoring at 4:27 of the first. Daniel Sedin made a no-look backhand pass to Henrik Sedin just outside the slot and the Canucks captain found Burrows at the side of the net for an easy tap-in, giving him nine goals on the year.

It was Burrows' second goal in three games.

Colorado went on a 10-0 run in shots on goal after Burrows took a holding penalty midway through the first. The Avalanche outshot the home team 21-15 through 40 minutes.

Schneider was up to the task, making numerous key saves, including two or three stops on Jamie McGinn on the power play. With six minutes to go in the first, Schneider made another good stop, coming across to rob Milan Hejduk's one-timer after Erik Johnson made a nice move to set him up in front of the Vancouver net.

The Avs weren't done yet. With two minutes to go in the first, P.A. Parenteau had two cracks at the Canucks' net but failed to get it past Schneider's pad.

The second period saw little in the way of offense, but Colorado tied it up four minutes into the third.

Parenteau went behind the net and stripped two Canucks of the puck before centering for Duchesne in the slot. Though Schneider got a piece of the one-timer, it beat him to the glove side, giving Duchesne 13 goals on the season.

NOTES: Colorado was without Paul Stastny (foot), Steve Downie (knee) and Ryan Wilson (ankle). ... Vancouver was without Keith Ballard (foot), Zack Kassian (back), Ryan Kesler (broken foot) and David Booth (ankle surgery). ... Colorado's Ryan O'Reilly had a four-game point streak snapped.

[Associated Press]

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